Solving Quadratic

Equations by
Completing the Square
Perfect Square Trinomials
Examples
x
2
+ 6x + 9
x
2
- 10x + 25
x
2
+ 12x + 36




Creating a Perfect
Square Trinomial
In the following perfect square
trinomial, the constant term is
missing.
X
2
+ 14x + ____
Find the constant term by
squaring half the coefficient of
the linear term.
(14/2)
2
X
2
+ 14x + 49


Perfect Square Trinomials
Create perfect
square trinomials.
x
2
+ 20x + ___
x
2
- 4x + ___
x
2
+ 5x + ___



100
4
25/4
Solving Quadratic Equations
by Completing the Square
Solve the following
equation by
completing the
square:

Step 1: Move
quadratic term, and
linear term to left
side of the
equation
2
8 20 0 x x + =
2
8 20 x x + =
Solving Quadratic Equations
by Completing the Square
Step 2: Find the term
that completes the square
on the left side of the
equation. Add that term
to both sides.
2
8 =20 + x x + +
2
1
( ) 4 then square it, 4 16
2
8 - = =
2
8 20 16 16 x x + + = +
Solving Quadratic Equations
by Completing the Square
Step 3: Factor
the perfect
square trinomial
on the left side
of the equation.
Simplify the
right side of the
equation.
2
8 20 16 16 x x + + = +
2
( 4)( 4) 36
( 4) 36
x x
x
=
=
Solving Quadratic Equations
by Completing the Square
Step 4:
Take the
square
root of
each side
2
( 4) 36 x+ =
( 4) 6 x+ =
Solving Quadratic Equations
by Completing the Square
Step 5: Set
up the two
possibilities
and solve
4 6
4 6 an

d 4 6
10 and 2 x=
x
x x
x
=
=
=
= +
Completing the Square-Example #2
Solve the following
equation by completing
the square:

Step 1: Move quadratic
term, and linear term to
left side of the equation,
the constant to the right
side of the equation.
2
2 7 12 0 x x + =
2
2 7 12 x x =
Solving Quadratic Equations
by Completing the Square
Step 2: Find the term
that completes the square
on the left side of the
equation. Add that term
to both sides.

The quadratic coefficient
must be equal to 1 before
you complete the square, so
you must divide all terms
by the quadratic
coefficient first.
2
2
2
2 7
2
2 2 2
7 12

7
2
=-12 +

6


x x
x x
x x
+
+
+
= +
= +
2
1 7 7 49
( ) then square it,
2 6 2 4 4 1
7
| |
- = =
|
\ .
2
49 49
16 1
7
6
2 6
x x + = +
Solving Quadratic Equations
by Completing the Square
Step 3: Factor
the perfect
square trinomial
on the left side
of the equation.
Simplify the
right side of the
equation.
2
2
2
7
6
2
7 96 49
4 16 16
7 47
4
49 49
16 1
16
6
x x
x
x
+ = +
| |
= +
|
\ .
| |
=
|
\ .
Solving Quadratic Equations by
Completing the Square
Step 4:
Take the
square
root of
each side
2
7 47
( )
4 16
x

=
7 47
( )
4 4
7 47
4 4
7 47
4
x
i
x
i
x

=
=

=
Solving Quadratic Equations by
Completing the Square
2
2
2
2
2
1. 2 63 0
2. 8 84 0
3. 5 24 0
4. 7 13 0
5. 3 5 6 0
x x
x x
x x
x x
x x
+ =
+ =
=
+ + =
+ + =
Try the following examples. Do your work on your paper and then check
your answers.


( )
( )
1. 9, 7
2.(6, 14)
3. 3, 8
7 3
4.
2
5 47
5.
6
i
i

| |

|
|
\ .
| |

|
|
\ .